The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-17
PROJECTIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED.
Views of n Most Important Democratic Jonr-
nal of Alabama.

PROJECTIONS MUST BE MAINTAINED.
Views of n Most Important Democratic Jonr-
nal Of Alabama.
Mr.. Clevelands message will attract wide at
tention, pot ouly in the United States but
abroad 1t has already been received by the
| British press with exutation marking long
step toward opening the markets of this country
| to the control OF foreign wares.
We have read this paper with the closest at
| tention and the most earnest desire to agree
| with the President il his reasoning we'll as
| his conclusions. On one point there is no diff
| ference of opinion among Democrats. The rev.
| enue must be reduced. and the Treasury should
not again be put into condition that invites
dangerous appropriations: The language of
and of warning.
All Democrats will agree with the President
also when no says that in reducing duties re-
gard must be had to the demand of American
labor for such protection as will put it upon
terms of fair competition with foreign labor.
His language is almost identical with that of
the national platform. He says:
sit is not proposed entirely to relieve tho
country of this taxation. 1t must be extensively
continued the source of the governments in
come and in read justment of tariff the in
terests of American labor engaged in manu-
facture should be carefully considered as well
the preservation of our manufactures. The
standard OF our laborers should not be measured
by that of any other country less favored, and
they entitled to their full share of all our
advantages"
there be reduction of revenue that will
open the gates to destructive foreign competi-
ton.
The danger is that such a wise safeguard may
be lost sight OF in the inevitable tendency of the
Presidents arguments. Taking wool
illustration, the President enters into a minute
calculation as to the profit a wool grower de-
rives from q duty on wool, and the loss he
periences in his purchase of wooilen goods.
Would not the same argument apply to cotton!
The duty manufactured cotton goods of the
class generally worn throughout the United
States, North and South. Is 90 per cent ad
valorem. If it is fact that the duty is added
to the price of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT article,
then the people arc taxed 50 per cent every
yard of cotton goods 1t happens, how
ever. that such is not fact The price OF cot
ton goods in this country is but very little high
er +han it is abroad; and while we pay little
more for the higher grades of cotton goods, we
keep up the price Of cotton, and build up
home factories to add to its consumption, and
We are keeping at home here at the South mill
ions of dollars which would otherwise go to
foreign markets. We see no difference in prn.
cple between the case OF woollen goods and
that OF cotton goods. Now, while would
like to see woollen goods cheaper. we would not
like to cotton goods cheaper, because cheap
cotton goods means cheap bales of cotton
The free-trader in wool might make capital in
a district where but little, If any, wool is grown,
but the free-trader in cotton goods would find it
rough sailing in any Southern district We
must give and take.
We think the Presidents reasoning as TO the
relative strength of populations is not sound
He assumes that every reported agri>
culturist by the census returns is In conflict
this question with those reported manufact
urers. The fallacy of this summary is in the
fact that large numbers of agricultu-ists
employed about the large manufacturing cities.
One canning factory buys all the peaches
of a county. Another buys all the tomatoes
of several counties. The caudy-makers
and peanut oil refners of New York give
ploymeut to the farmers of several counties III
Virginia. One hotel in Boston employs severa.
dairy farms. The cotton oil mills of the South
add greatly to the demand for cotton labor. and
furnish . large per cent. of its COMPENSATION.
Hero in Alabama, about Mobile. our truck farm
ers are kept going by the demand for early veg
erables from Western manufacturing cities.
When Birmingham and the other cities of north
Alabama get their full growth. they will give
employment to new garden farms throughout
the coast country. So, then, very large body
of agriculturists have identical interest IL
the growth and prosperity of American manu-
features
The truth is that all interests in this country
are and ought to be mutually dependent. and
instead of devising schemes 70 open our doors
to foreign goods which may destroy OWE
factories aud leave at the mercy of foreign
traders, we should endeavor to protect and
pand our internal commerce
The reasoning of the President is precisely
that of the Bright and Golden school Happily
the world has discarded the doctrine as unsourd.
Every strong government o. modern times.
cept England, protects its home labor from
foreign competition.
Practically. however the issue to which .hs
Presidents argument tends Is not upon as in
any dangerous form 1t Is true that In his de-
sire to lessen duties he hints at retaining the to-
bacco tax, and thus endangers the success of his
party in those Middle States which have de-
manded removal of the excise tobacco; but
it is to be hoped other questions of graver and
more practical import will keep those Slater
within the party
So far as the South is concerned, we deplora
the introduction of the free-trade argument into
our politics. On that question the whites will
divide in the future, they divided In the past,
and the fear is that white unity, built up in the
face of such dangers and distress as the world
never before witnessed. will go to pieces and
leave society in chaos Grasping at shadows,
we are riskiue the So bstance OF social peace and
pure government